Phrozen Philosophy

If you are like me I am betting that you are all pretty sick of links and references to the movie, "Frozen." Forgive me, but I am wayyyyyyyyy behind the curve on this movie so I finally forced myself to sit down and watch the darned thing. The movie was cute--but what I really loved about it was the music.

One phrase of one song in particular keeps running through my mind. I find myself going through my chores humming the melody to this song, but this one particular phrase I will always sing out loud:

"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small 

and the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all."

It's, of course, from the song "Let it Go," and what I love about it, the thing that keeps me singing it over and over, is the part about distance making everything seem small.

This summer I went on my usual annual summer vacation. I spent a week in the north woods of Wisconsin doing what I love to do: swimming, kayaking, biking, golfing, and sitting and looking at the lake for hours on end. I came home refreshed, energized, and much tanner than when I left.

However, I didn't leave that way.

The week before my vacation I thought I was losing my mind. I'm sure you all have experienced this. So many details to take care of, so many arrangements to make, and precious little time to get them all done. Then to top it off I had company over the weekend before I was to leave.

Earlier in the week before my vacation, I stood in my kitchen with my best friend, and cried out, "I don't know what's wrong with me! Why am I so unhappy?" And then I proceeded to list off all the things that were wrong with my life.

Being the good friend she is she gave me a great big hug and said, "You just need a vacation! You'll feel better once you leave here and get away from your life." And you know what? She was right.

We all need to take time to get some distance from whatever it is that seems wrong. Before I left on vacation I had problems that had hair on them. By the time I got back home they didn't seem that bad after all. And even if you can't get away for a whole week, there are many things that you can do to get some distance for a few hours, or an afternoon, or a day.

Take a walk in the park, go to a movie (and buy the large popcorn and soda),  go to a museum, or book that appointment at the spa for a few hours and give yourself some pampering. Just put some distance between you and your life and your problems will seem much more manageable.

Then, after your break and when you are ready to re-engage, you can truly feel like you have no limits to what you can do. Go ahead, take on the world, or at least rush hour traffic, with a new attitude and a new perspective.